In the early morning of July 20th, a sudden mountain torrent occurred in Xinhua Village, Malie Township, Hanyuan County, Sichuan Province, causing communication interruptions and damage to roads, bridges, and more in the area. Over 1,000 villagers were affected, with more than 30 people washed away by the flood. By 4 p.m. on the 21st, 10 bodies of the deceased had been found, while 29 individuals were still unaccounted for.
“This flood came too swiftly,” said Wang Fuchao, former head of the Xinhua Village committee, to ThePaper.cn. “Many people were still asleep and couldn’t run in time.” Some local residents affected by the disaster shared their harrowing experiences, mentioning that the first wave of the flood was a mudslide, raising the riverbed by about 3 meters. They expressed deep concerns about missing friends and family members, with reports of entire households disappearing, some as young as nine years old.
According to official Chinese statements, preliminary investigations have revealed that over 30 individuals were washed away by the flood, more than 40 houses were damaged, 412 people were relocated, and 15 people sustained injuries. Due to the Chinese Communist Party’s history of concealing the truth, the actual extent of casualties remains unclear.
Additionally, the collapse of the Zaoshui Highway Bridge in Shaanxi Province has led to the death toll rising to 15.
Some netizens expressed their thoughts and prayers, with one recalling being on the affected road on the 18th and wishing for everyone’s safety. Another remarked on the ominous date of July 20th, mentioning previous tragedies in different regions of China. Questions arose regarding the string of recent disasters, prompting discussions on the need for robust contingency plans for extreme weather events.
Online speculations pondered the increase in natural disasters and questioned the frequency of such incidents this year. There were observations about the uncharacteristic weather patterns in various provinces, from intense heatwaves to droughts, emphasizing the importance of kindness and solidarity during these challenging times.
In conclusion, the recent series of natural disasters across multiple provinces in China has sparked concerns and reflections among netizens about the changing climate patterns and the need for community preparedness and compassion during times of adversity.